15

I'd hate to see the OP's dream trip cut short at immigration because of a visa issue.

I found that shoemaking class. It's much more than 18 hours a week. That's a visa issue.

16

Just adding another voice saying that if you want to attend a SF Giants home game these days, best not wait until the last minute to procure tickets. Having won its second World Series championship in three years, the team has never been more popular. (Last year, only the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies boasted higher home attendance). The large number of season-ticket holders means that inexpensive or moderately-priced seats can be particularly hard to find if you try to buy them less than a month in advance.

17

Thanks Petra for the info about your Yosemite trip and the company that you used, they seem like a great organisation with small groups and green vehicles.
Nutrax- you've got me a little concerned now. My shoemaking class is 7 days of 8hr days, but given that I am not enrolling in an actual educational institution I never would have suspected needing a student visa for my trip. Like I said, I kind of equate this shoemaking course to doing a weeklong cooking class in Tuscany or something similar. I'm not getting a degree out of it, and it's just for fun and personal experience. So anyway, I have now tried to see what requirements there are for a student visa online but I don't really see it applying to me. The student visa seems to be geared towards people who want to enrol in university(or similar) and allowing them to study, live and work in the US.
Zashibis, thanks looks like I will have to buy tickets to see the Giants before I go or I might miss out.
Thanks everyone for your help.
Hollie